Best fonts and text layouts for ADHD

Font might seem like a small design choice – but for people with ADHD, it can make a big difference.

Readers with ADHD often face challenges when processing dense text, navigating cluttered layouts, or maintaining focus on long-form content. And while many accessibility conversations focus on visual or mobility impairments, cognitive accessibility is just as essential – and often overlooked.

ADHD-friendly fonts are designed (or selected) with these challenges in mind. They prioritize clarity, reduce visual noise, and help readers stay oriented on the page. The right font won’t “fix” ADHD, of course – but it can support attention, lower cognitive load, and make reading a more comfortable experience.

In this guide, we’ll explore what makes a font ADHD-friendly, the key features to look for, and how to apply best practices in your digital content and designs. Whether you’re a UX designer, developer, educator, or content creator, you’ll learn how to make more inclusive choices that benefit everyone.

How typography affects people with ADHD

Typography plays a surprisingly powerful role in how we absorb and interact with information. For individuals with ADHD, certain typographic choices can either support focus and comprehension or make reading a frustrating experience.

Common reading challenges for people with ADHD

• Difficulty focusing for extended periods: Dense blocks of text, small fonts, or inconsistent layouts can increase mental fatigue.
• Visual crowding: Overly stylized or compact text can blur together and overwhelm the reader, especially in long paragraphs.
• Frequent distraction: If the text lacks clear visual structure, readers with ADHD may struggle to track their place or stay engaged.
• Slower processing: Certain typefaces require more effort to decode, which can increase cognitive load and reduce reading fluency.

Design impacts

• Poor font and layout choices may result in more time spent re-reading, losing a place, or abandoning the content entirely.
• Well-designed typography, on the other hand, can make content easier to scan, follow, and retain – benefiting all users.

Key features of fonts designed for ADHD

While no single font can solve the challenges of ADHD, certain typographic traits can significantly improve readability, reduce distraction, and support sustained attention. 

ADHD-friendly fonts typically share a few important features:

1. Simplicity

Clean, minimal letterforms are easier to process. Avoid overly decorative fonts, which can create unnecessary visual noise.

Helpful fonts: Helvetica, Arial, Calibri
Avoid: Script, cursive, novelty fonts (e.g., Comic Sans, Papyrus)

2. Consistent letter shapes

Fonts that clearly differentiate similar characters (like “I”, “l”, and “1” or “O” and “0”) reduce confusion and help with faster word recognition.

3. Even spacing

Generous letter, word, and line spacing improves clarity and reduces the chance of text appearing too crowded – something that can quickly overwhelm a reader with ADHD.

TIP: Aim for line spacing (leading) of 1.5 or greater for paragraphs of body text.

4. Medium weight

Fonts that are too thin or too heavy can strain the eyes. A medium-weight font – neither too light nor too bold – will offer the best readability.

5. Left-aligned layout

Justified text creates irregular spacing between words, making it harder for the eye to track lines. Left-aligned text maintains consistent spacing and a predictable rhythm.

6. Readable at various sizes

Fonts should be legible even at smaller sizes or when zoomed in – this is important for users who increase text size as a reading aid.

By keeping these features in mind, designers and content creators can begin to create a reading environment that feels calmer, more inviting, and far less cognitively demanding.

Best fonts for ADHD: Top recommendations

Preferences can vary from person to person, but some fonts consistently perform better for readers with ADHD thanks to their clarity, spacing, and simplicity. 

Let’s look at several tried-and-tested options that combine legibility with cognitive friendliness:

1. Verdana

• Designed for on-screen readability.
• Wide spacing and tall lowercase letters improve line tracking.
• Great for body copy and interfaces.

2. Arial

• A clean, sans-serif classic.
• Familiar to most users, with a neutral design.
• Consistent stroke widths reduce visual distraction.

3. Calibri

• The default font used in many digital workspaces.
• Rounded corners and soft curves make it easy on the eyes.
• A good choice for emails, documents, and online reading.

4. Helvetica

• Highly legible, even at smaller sizes.
• Used widely in interface and digital product design.
• Offers clarity without being overly stark.

5. Open Dyslexic

• Designed specifically for people with dyslexia, but helpful for some with ADHD.
• Heavier bottoms on letters reduce flipping and skipping.
• Opinions are mixed, so user testing is important.

6. Lexend

• Scientifically developed to reduce visual stress and improve reading performance.
• Custom spacing and wider letterforms benefit people with ADHD and dyslexia.
• Free to use and available via Google Fonts.

Bonus tip: Use Google Fonts or System Fonts

Stick with web-friendly fonts or those available via Google Fonts. These will ensure consistent rendering across devices and browsers.

Sans-Serif vs. Serif Fonts: Which is better for ADHD?

One of the most common typography questions when designing for cognitive accessibility is whether to use serif or sans-serif fonts. 

While both have their uses, there’s a clear frontrunner when it comes to ADHD-friendly design.

Sans-Serif fonts: the ADHD-Friendly Favorite

Sans-serif fonts – like Arial, Calibri, and Helvetica – tend to be more suitable for people with ADHD. 

Here’s why:

• Cleaner, simpler shapes: Sans-serif fonts lack decorative strokes at the ends of letters, making them less visually complex and easier to process quickly.
• Less visual clutter: The minimalist letterforms reduce distractions on the page.
• Better on screens: Sans-serif fonts typically render more clearly on digital displays, especially at smaller sizes.
• Improved letter recognition: Their straightforward design helps prevent letters from blending together.

Serif Fonts: best used sparingly

Serif fonts – such as Times New Roman or Georgia – include small embellishments or “tails” on the ends of strokes. While they can be elegant and readable in print, they present a few challenges for ADHD readers:

• Increased visual noise: Serifs can add unnecessary complexity, especially in dense paragraphs.
• More difficult tracking: The additional ornamentation can make it harder to follow lines or distinguish similar characters.
• Screen readability issues: On low-resolution screens, serifs can appear blurry or pixelated.

How font size, spacing, and line height impact readability for ADHD

Even the most ADHD-friendly font can fall short if the text layout isn’t thoughtfully designed. Typography isn’t just about which font you choose; it’s also about how you present it. 

For readers with ADHD, spacing and sizing choices can dramatically affect focus, comprehension, and comfort.

Font size: bigger is often better

Small fonts require more concentration and visual effort. For readers with ADHD, this added strain can lead to faster fatigue and frustration.

• Aim for a minimum of 16px for body text on web content.
• Larger fonts (18–20px) are often more readable and reduce cognitive load.
• For headings, use consistent scaling to create clear content hierarchy.

Line height: give the eyes room to breathe

Also known as “leading,” line height determines the vertical space between lines of text. Tight line spacing can make reading feel claustrophobic, while overly wide spacing breaks visual flow.

• Use 1.4 to 1.6x the font size for optimal readability.
• Avoid cramming too many lines into small content areas.

Letter spacing: the unsung hero

Adjusting the space between characters can help with letter recognition and reduce the chance of letters visually merging – especially in readers who are easily distracted or prone to skipping.

• A slight increase in letter spacing (e.g., 0.5px) can improve clarity.
• Avoid fonts with extremely tight or inconsistent kerning.

Paragraph spacing and chunking

Dense blocks of text are overwhelming for many readers, but especially for those with ADHD. Breaking content into smaller, scannable units helps maintain engagement.

• Use clear paragraph breaks to segment information.
• Incorporate bulleted lists, subheadings, and whitespace to support scanning.

TL;DR?

Make it large. Make it spacious. Make it easy to scan. The more mental breathing room your text provides, the easier it will be for ADHD readers to stay focused and absorb your content.

Custom ADHD Fonts: do they really help?

In recent years, several typefaces have been designed specifically to support readers with dyslexia and ADHD. These fonts often feature unique shapes, spacing, and weights meant to improve readability and focus. But do they actually make a difference?

What are ADHD fonts?

ADHD-specific or ADHD-friendly fonts are designed with neurodivergent readers in mind. While there’s more research supporting fonts for dyslexia, many of the same principles (like generous spacing and simplified letterforms) can benefit people with ADHD as well.

Popular examples include:

• OpenDyslexic: Features heavy-weighted bottoms to help prevent letter flipping or confusion.
• Lexend: A font family scientifically designed to reduce visual stress and improve reading performance.
• Read Regular: Designed to improve readability for those with reading challenges, including ADHD.

Do they actually work?

The evidence is mixed. Some studies and user reports suggest that these fonts may reduce reading errors or increase comfort for neurodivergent readers – but others show little measurable impact compared to standard readable fonts like Arial or Verdana.

However, user preference matters. If someone finds a custom ADHD font easier to read, that’s a valid and valuable reason to use it.

Things to consider

• Custom fonts may not always be supported across all devices or browsers.
• Excessive stylization can sometimes create more distractions, not fewer.
• Test custom fonts in real-world settings before committing to them across the site.

Bottom line

Custom ADHD fonts can be helpful, especially when paired with thoughtful formatting and clean design. But they’re not a magic bullet – the key is offering flexibility and using them as part of a broader accessibility strategy.

Best practices for designing ADHD-friendly text

Typography is about the overall reading experience (not just fonts). For people with ADHD, small design decisions can make a big difference in how easily they process and engage with content.

Here are some practical tips to improve readability and reduce cognitive overload:

1. Choose simple, clean fonts

• Use readable sans-serif fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Lexend.
• Avoid ornate or decorative typefaces – they can be distracting and hard to scan.
• Stick to one or two font families throughout your site or document.

2. Use adequate font size

• Aim for a minimum of 16px body text.
• Increase font size for headings and calls to action to create clear visual hierarchy.

3. Adjust line height and spacing

• Set line height (line spacing) to around 1.5x the font size.
• Use generous paragraph spacing to avoid visual clutter.
• Ensure adequate letter and word spacing (tracking) to aid focus.

4. Break Up Text

• Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings.
• Incorporate white space to give the eyes room to rest.
• Include visual cues (icons, highlights) to guide readers through content.

5. Minimize distractions

• Avoid flashing content, auto-play videos, or fast-moving carousels.
• Use consistent layouts and navigation patterns.
• Reduce clutter and remove non-essential elements from the page.

6. Give users control

• Allow users to adjust font size, contrast, or line spacing if possible.
• Consider offering a “reading mode” or simplified content view.

7. Test with real users

• Whenever possible, test your designs with neurodivergent individuals.
• Collect feedback to refine your content and improve usability.

Conclusion: Designing with ADHD in mind benefits everyone

Typography can be a powerful ally in making content more accessible for people with ADHD. When you prioritize clarity, simplicity, and flexibility, you reduce barriers, not just for neurodivergent users, but for all your readers. 

From font choice and spacing to layout and readability, every design decision can support better focus and comprehension.

By following the guidance in this article, you’ll be one step closer to creating more inclusive, user-friendly digital experiences.